ISABELLE MULLEN: Gen Z men are flocking to Donald Trump in increasing numbers. And he’s loving it
Donald Trump is going after a group of people he believes he can win over.
Young men.
And as a growing number of Gen Z men move towards the Republican campaign, political commentators are asking why.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But in a context of economic downturn and global uncertainty, this cohort’s move to the right is not surprising.
Young voters are sick of institutions and often blame them for the hand they’ve been dealt.
In a climate of changing gender roles, many believe they have lost their masculinity and are frustrated by the fallout of the #metoo movement.
Trump — whether you like it or not — embodies the qualities these young MAGA men aspire to.
He’s confident, dominant, and self-assured and he’s promising to restore a world order they fear is slipping away.
For this group, he is seen as an icon of traditional masculinity, who’s not afraid to say what he thinks.
His simple messaging cuts through.
He says he’ll “make America great again” by restoring traditional ideals and pushing back against the “overt political correctness” he believes the Democrats embody.
This is exciting for a lot of young men who have hitched their cart to the Republican wagon, hoping Trump will mark an end to “confusing” gender role shifts and restore traditional masculinity.
But not all these men are socially conservative, and for some their concerns are more economic than they are misogynistic.
Many of them support abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
But it’s hard to get away from the fact that they feel undervalued.
They believe that since Joe Biden was elected the economy has suffered and it’s become harder for them to support a family.
And so, the voting intention gender gap is widening each day.
According to the latest New York Times poll, 67 per cent of women under the age of 30 plan to vote for Kamala Harris and 29 per cent for Trump. At the same time, 53 per cent of young men plan to vote for Trump and just 40 per cent for Harris.
A lot of this comes down to the effectiveness of branding.
The genius of the MAGA slogan is that it can mean anything. It suggests that the present — which these young men are not happy with — is not as good as the past.
It invokes nostalgia and implies that a simpler, rosier reality is within reach — without telling you what that reality is.
And because it can mean anything, it can appeal to anyone.
For these people, Trump is seen as a ticket to that magical place.
MAGA speaks to young men who feel threatened by the women’s movement.
Trump — like Harris — has embraced a non-traditional media strategy to try and get more of these voters.
The difference is Trump is much better at it and has been doing it for longer.
His Twitter rants are well documented and get enormous traction, but he’s also employed the help of prominent male podcasters like Logan Paul to navigate a young online audience.
Logan Paul is an influencer and wrestler and boasts a combined following of 32 million followers on Twitter and Instagram and 23 million subscribers on YouTube.
These followers are predominantly young men.
Trump spoke on his Impaulsive podcast before Joe Biden stepped aside, an interview that got 6.5 million views on YouTube and was later shared by Elon Musk.
In this tight election contest, both Trump and Harris need new voters.
People like Logan Paul can reach them at any time.
And the beauty of these social media platforms is that they are an unregulated medium, not bound by journalistic standards or ethics.
Trump — like Harris — can say anything online and their comments are posted and shared without ever being challenged.
Social media is the perfect place for a politician.
